Definitions

deceitful

[dih-seet-fuhl] / dɪˈsit fəl /

ADJECTIVE

dishonest, insincere

Synonyms

STRONGEST

artful deceptive disingenuous duplicitous false fraudulent hypocritical misleading underhanded untrustworthy untruthful

WEAK

astucious astute beguiling clandestine counterfeit crafty cunning deceiving delusive delusory designing double-dealing fallacious feline foxy furtive guileful illusory impostrous indirect insidious knavish lying mendacious rascal roguish shifty slick sly sneaky stealthy subtle treacherous tricky two-faced underhand wily

Antonyms

STRONGEST

actual authentic forthright frank genuine honest ingenuous just naive open real reliable sincere truthful upright valid

WEAK

faithful loyal trustworthy

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“It was her deceitful actions in her attempt to gather evidence of such fraud.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026

In parliament ahead of the vote, Bolojan defended his push for reforms, slamming the motion as "deceitful, cynical, and contrived."

From Barron's • May 5, 2026

And it’s gone along on the same trajectory with deceitful disclosures.

From Slate • Feb. 4, 2026

He defined the domestic cat, for instance, as “a deceitful animal, and when enraged, extremely spiteful.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 19, 2025

Until that moment, she had not said a word, but when she began to answer questions, she spoke in the same deceitful voice she had used to con caseworkers.

From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter

Vocabulary lists containing deceitful

Power Suffix: -ful

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Fake It 'Til You Make It: Synonyms for "False"

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Negative Words to Describe a Person

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!